LSU baseball recruiting class ranked No. 1 in the country

Updated September 12, 2018 at 12:17 PM;Posted September 12, 2018 at 11:21 AM

LSU coach Paul Mainieri and the baseball team stand in reverence during the national anthem against Notre Dame at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge on Saturday, February 17, 2018. (Photos courtesy of Whitney Williston)

Paul Mainieri suggested in June his class was one of the best in the country. He predicted it would be ranked No. 1 when it was all said and done.

He was correct. Baseball America ranked the 2018 LSU signing class as the No. 1 recruiting class in the country.

This is LSU's fourth No. 1 ranking by Baseball America since Mainieri took over in 2007.

The Tigers edged out some loaded classes from teams like Vanderbilt and Florida State, but this class with several guys turning down seven-figure signing bonuses was considered the best.

"Our recruiting coordinator, Nolan Cain, and our associate head coach, Alan Dunn, did a tremendous job in securing the No. 1 class in the nation," Mainieri said. "Several members of the class could have signed pro contracts, but they wanted to come to LSU. They didn't want to give up on the college experience and the opportunity to be a part of the LSU baseball program. I know that these decisions will work out best for them, because I know what's in store for them as LSU student-athletes."

The class is headlined by some top-level pitchers such as Landon Marceaux, Jaden Hill and Cole Henry. Mainieri raved about all three two weeks ago at a caravan event in Dallas before LSU football played Miami.

Versatile catcher CJ Willis is another name to watch, and Mainieri is high on outfielder Giovanni DiGiacamo.

LSU led all schools with eight recruits listed on the 2018 Baseball America Top 500, which is made up of all draft-eligible players.

This class, combined with players such as Antoine Duplantis, Zack Hess and Zach Watson turning down MLB offers to return, gives LSU one of the top teams in the country.